The Penn's Grove record., 1887-12-17
UNDER A CLOUD.

II was a cold, DARK night in Febru-
ary. The snow had been lying On the
housetops for a fortnight. The trees
in the squares seemed like frosted
skeletons. Everywhere overhead the
snow was still white and pure. Under
foot was a damp, cold, slushy mixture
Of ice and mud, such as London only
can produce, which chills the badly
shod wayfarer to the bone. The lamps
gave but a dim light in the side streets,
and the few pedestrians, marching
silently along In the quiet thorough
fares, seemed, with their noiseless loot
steps,, to be so many s0rrowful ghosts
condemned to a weary pilgrimage in a
| silent city of mist and darkness.
Frank Denton, however. felt none OF
| these things. At five-and-twenty one
enjoys a walk undeterfed by fears OF
cold and rheumatism; indeed, the driv-
ing rain or gently-falling snow gives a
zest when Il is young, well-fed, we'll
clothed, and blessed with the knowledge
that the struggle with the elements
can be ended at pleasure.
Frank, although he was not partlcu.
larry favored by fortune, was one OF
those lucky people. His father had
been a poor clergyman, who, struck
down by fever, left his wife and son
totally unpr0vided for. Frank, then
sixteen, had been placed by II OF his
fathers friends in a merchants once.
Here he had remained. gradually I'M
proving his position, and gaining the
confidence of his employers.
For the last two years, having had
the misfortune to lose his mother, he
had been living alone in London. and
being of quiet and studious habits, had
passed most of the evenings in the COM
pany of his books. He was out this
evening, after a couple CT hours study,
and had been walking briskly along for
some time, his thoughts busy with a
bright, imaginary future. For b last
few minutes he had been vaguely aware
of a-temale form fitting along in front
of him, and was conscious that, whilst
one.balf of his brain had been busy
building castles In the air, b othei
half had been as busy admiring tiis
pretty figure in front of him.
just as Frank was about to pass
her, she seized him by the arm ant
forced him rudely back two or three
: PAGES, and, before he could recover
. himself, there was a mutfied sound o
. rushing hoofs and rafting of harness
a horse and trap dashed madly over tn
spot where he would have been, and II
another moment the vehicle was caugh
. against the lamp-post at the corner ant
smashed to pieces. In a minute tn
solitary street had a ~decent-sized crow
Z in it, 1t is a marvellous characteristic
of London that no sooner dOes tn
most trlfiing accident occur than
crowd seems to grow up at once
Where the people com from Is a mys
ia terry. They seem to oOZe up from I'd
"a road. to emanate in some manner fror
- the very bricks, to descend with I'll
blacks, to float In upon the wind.
Frank, however, took little notice Q
the crowd. He was too much occupie
with his fair preserver, who, the dai
s ger past, had tainted, and would NAY
r fallen but for his promptness In u
holding her, In tive or three minnt
the cool night air revived her, and tn
G walked on together till they found ther
selves in one of London's broad al
busy streets. Here she would ha'
wished him goodnight, but he insist
IA on accompanying her a little farthe
to which, after q faint resistance
agreed.
The strange manner in which tn
Z. had been introduced to each other; !
service she had rendered him, /
4 which, he protested, he could ne'
=. sufficiently thank her: the earnest
lection on her part Of any merit
what she had done; gradually iaunch
. them into a lively conversation: SO u
II in a short time they were talking
familiarly as though they had kno'
each other for years. He learned Il
she was employed at a fashiona
miiliner's establishment at the w
End, and that she was making her v
to her home nea 1slington.
In spite of her humble position tn
was a tone of refinement about
> and his quick ear told him that
speech was that OF a well educated
son. Her face was that Of a charm
girl, and her figure was in keeping v
her face.
Too soon the walk came to an G
e and Frank had to say goodnight
81 once more thank his fair preserver
the service rendered HIM. His lodgl
seemed very lonely and gloomy; an
,o,- he could not settle down to his DC
he retired to rest, in the hope tnal
might perhaps be SO lucky as to DIR
of his new acquaintance.
All the next day her face kept app
- ing on the ledger or the letters he
working at, and, perhaps, 1t was
(. 40 very remarkable that soon a
Mary Emerton had left Mime.
|nr chaud's, she met Frank, She c
III not refuse to acknowledge his sal
tion ipdaad she had little wish tl
~ so. for his bright face and WIN
manner had made a great impress
[JT. There had been little romano IN
RI. dull, gray existence.
Many an evening did these y
., people meet, and although some W
blame Mary for admitting h
&c. ouaintance of one who was a
1.,a stranger to her, it must be rememt
that girls who have to work FOR
daily bread, and are aceustonieI
u struggle in the everyday fight CT
~, world, are, as a rule, quite capaD
taking care of themselves. III
grove did not at once inform her paren
this new friendship, it was more 0
sbyness than for any other reason.
Snn Time went IN. Frank was an
'on to have a home of his own, AM
that his position justified n G
- humble tastes in giving hostag
.OS fortune.n
Mary had long ago told him o
position and that of her parents.
knew that her father gained a iivi
rihE a law.writer; that he had once b.
hhttti a better position. that he had as
and guided his daughter IN the 81
.hat had vnada her far supfrior to